Henry Ford sold only black Model Ts because the paint dried faster.

So, wait another year and the production run color choice may be different..

Ain't nothin' a can of Krylon won't fix.

It's been proven that Bianchi bikes in celeste green are 14.28% faster. ;-)


Gary

Color is a HUGE factor in my attraction/selection of a bike. Actually, I'd say that it's probably the first thing that I need to check off my list before I look further into the other details of the bike.

I don't mind black frames but what I don't like are the completely blacked-out bikes. I'm actually a fan of a classic gloss black frameset with silver anodized aluminum components. It's getting so that it is hard to find some accessories in silver. I recently bought a rear rack for my mutt and had the choice of black or white in the model I wanted and couldn't find a similar model in silver, so I'll be taking it to a local anodizing shop.

And he is quoted as saying "you can have any color you want as long as its black"

How much would a professional paint job cost, if you like the bike but not the color?

I must be different, I don't really care what color my bike is. I do like chrome or stainless on my bikes. And if I ever got a Ti or stainless bike, I wouldn't paint it.

When I get a bike, I am looking more at function than form.

I am working on a collection of bikes that are being named after the crooks in the movie, Reservoir Dogs.

So far, I have Mr. White and Mr. Orange (actually is Burnt Red). And Mr. Green wasn't in the movie.

But I still need Mr. Blonde, Pink, Blue, and Brown.

Black has its own appeal. Stealth? This would look silly in yellow.

I sometimes wonder if there is a business opportunity for pin-stripers or signwriters to come up with after-market colour schemes for plain black or white bike frames.

Then I think, no, bicyclists by law are tight arses and wouldn't go that route to pimp out their rides.

Random thoughts here: I raced a subtle metallic grey Fuji Pro in the '70s. Not flashy at all, but I loved the fact that dirt did not show! I was a sponsored rider; I took care to present the best image for my sponsor. I could ride that bike 50 miles before breakfast right after a rain, ride it to work or a club race later and have people compliment me on how clean I kept it.

My bikes, all painted the color I want: Fire engine red with a black panel, ti stays. Brushed Ti, steel fork painted Ferrari red. Subtle metal flake bronze-orange. Sky blue powder coat. Gloss black powder coat. (Raleigh Competition that came black. I did keep it a very tradititional Raleigh color even though I owe Raleigh nothing for this bike. I paid a local framebuilder far more than the original full bike cost to get the brazing it should have come with.)

Another reason for black popularity: with the coming of carbon fiber, black meant high tech and light. The Trek Emondas I've seen are flat grey. To me, that color evokes warships and metal primer. Flat black not much better.

Ben

I'm sorry I clicked on this post, a bunch of guys arguing colors? I'm headed to Home Depot to try to get my testosterone level back up.

I just bought a 2018 Allez Elite for my son, which came in 2 color schemes: Light blue and red, or all black with white lettering...

I was hoping he'd choose the former but he chose the latter, saying it had more chance of matching whatever he may wear


Geoff

My 1978 Gianni Motta:

GM050817 by trsnrtr, on Flickr

Chapeau.

bike brands produce what sells, if you want other colors stop crying ang go buy bright colors, create a market trend

waterford 2.jpg

Milkshake with red lettering. (Of course, I had to order it this way...)

Five years ago almost everything was a combination red, black and white color. Seems blacked out is the latest trend. With disc brakes becoming more common, I am ready for some colored rims.

I seem to notice (and this is UK specific) that most cheap, mass produced mountain bikes from 10-20 years ago came in just about anything but black. Either the black ones just didn't survive long enough for the 2010s or the bike peddlers (haha lol because pedalling?) knew that people spending no more than £80 (~$100) on a bike wouldn't care for the components and just wanted it to look [insert that decade's definition of cool].

That said, some of the stuff on the road still goes to show that shimano built some bombproof stuff for the cheap-as-chips entry level kit. Pretty much everything I've ever seen that looks like it's never seen a drop of oil or a replaced cable is all shimano alivio spec, and it can be as bad as something so old, rusty, broken and squeaky as heck that you wonder for a moment how that person has even lived to see the light of day riding that thing.

Sure would standout though.

I try to skip Home Repo, I can get my bike nuts and bolts at True Value.

That 'seat' is a no-go to me.

I paint them as I like, being a RAT biker.